Bottle carriers



Nov. 10, 1964 1.. s. WYSOCKI BOTTLE CARRIERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Julyso, 1962 INVENTOR LAWRENCE S. Wrsoc/r/ BY .Emm? I I ATTORNEY UnitedStates Patent 3,156,377 BOTTLE CARRIERS Lawrence S. Wysocki, Qhicago,Ill, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Waldorf Paper Products Company,St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Filed July 36, 1962, Ser.No. 213,438 4 Claims. (Cl. 220-414) This invention relates to animprovement in bottle carriers and deals particularly with a carrierwhich may be wrapped around a series of bottles to hold them in apredetermined relative position.

Cans are often sold in carrier cartons which most commonly contain sixcans of the product. In these carriers, the cans are often times groupedtogether in actual physical contact. The glass industry has recentlystarted featuring bottles which are but little larger than cans designedto hold the same volume of the product, which are relatively short andwhich have an unusually short neck. With such bottles, it is usuallynecessary to provide some partition structure at least sufficient toprevent actual contact between the bottles. It is an object of thepresent invention to provide a carrier which is capable of accomplishingthese results.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a carrier including,in series, a side wall panel, a bottom panel, a second side wall panel,a series of top panels, and a locking flap designed to overlap the firstside wall panel and which is provided with suitable locking tonguescapable of locking the walls in tubular form. The top structure actuallyincludes three panels, one of which comprises a central panel and whichextends between the bottle necks, and the other two of which compriseinclined panels designed to incline downwardly over the curved portionsof the bottle bodies beneath the necks and to connect the central topportion with the side walls. Apertures are provided at the juncturebetween the center top panel and the inclined top panel portions throughwhich the short necks of the bottles may extend. The paperboard cut awayto form certain of these apertures remains hinged to the center toppanel approximately along the center line thereof. These portions of thepaperboard are folded down between opposed bottles in the carrier toform a partial partition therebetween.

In a wrap-around carrier of the type described, the bottles are usuallyarranged in two parallel rows, there usually being three bottles in eachrow. When the elongated strip of paperboard forming the carrier iswrapped about the group of bottles, the apertures in the carrier bodymust be sufficiently long in a direction longitudinally of the strip topermit the apertures to fit over the bottle necks and caps during thewrapping operation. When the carrier has been wrapped about the bottlesand locked in tubular form, the portions of the apertures which fitabout the bodies of the bottles tend to hold the bottles from movementlongitudinally of the rollers as the ends or" the carrier are drawntogether, there is a tendency for the upper ends of the bottles of onerow to be drawn toward the corresponding bottles of the other row. Anobject of the present invention lies in the provision of partitionelements which extend between the upper portions of the bottles of thetwo rows to prevent direct contact therebetween.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention willbe more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification andclaims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a bottle carrier showing the generalconstruction thereof.

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but showing the carrier empty toshow portions of the interior thereof.

3,156,377 Patented Nov. 10, 1964 FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional viewthrough the carrier, the position of the section being indicated by theline 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the carrier, theposition of the section being indicated by the line 44 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the carrier isformed.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of filled carrier.

FIGURE 7 is a transverse sectional view through the carrier illustratedin FIGURE 6. 1

FIGURE 8 is a longitudinal sectional view through the carrier of FIGURE6, the position of the section being indicated by the line 88 of FIGURE6. 7

FIGURE 9 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the carrier isformed.

The blank is formed as is best illustrated in FIGURE 5 of the drawings.The carrier A if formed of an elongated strip of paperboard which is cutand scored to provide a first side wall 10, a bottom panel 11, and a.second side wall 12, the wall panels being connected along parallel foldlines 13 and 14. A top panel portion 15 is foldably connected to theside wall 12 along the fold line 16, and a center top panel 17 isfoldably connected to the top panel portion 15 along a fold line 19. Asecond top panel portion 20 is foldably connected to the center toppanel 17 along a fold line 21. A locking flap 22 is foldably connectedto the top panel portion 20 along the fold line 23. All of the foldlines which have been described are parallel and extend transversely ofthe length of the blank.

A pair of locking tongues 24 are provided in spaced relation upon thelocking fiap 22, and the side wall 10 is provided with a pair ofcorrespondingly spaced apertures 25 through which the locking tongues 24may be forced in order to hold the carrier in tubular form.

Some means is provided for holding the various bottles B from slidingfrom the ends of the carton. In .the particular arrangement illustrated,flanges 26 are hingedly connected to the longitudinal edges of the blankalong fold lines 27, the flanges 26 being connected to side wall flanges29 on the side wall 10 along continuations of the fold line 27 bygenerally V-shaped gusset flaps 30 which are arranged with the apex ofthe V at the intersection of the fold lines'27 and the fold line 13connecting the side wall 19 to the bottom panel 11. In the same manner,the flanges 26 are connected to flanges 31 hingedly connected to theside wall 12 along a continuation of the fold lines 27 by V-shapedgusset flaps 32. With this arrangement, the flanges 26 may be held in anupright position when the flanges 29 and 31 are folded between thebottles and the side walls 10 and 12 to which these flanges are hinged.This arrangement is shown for the purpose of illustration only, and issimilar to that disclosed in Patent Re. 24,925 issued January 17, 1961,to John V. Fisher.

For the purpose of convenience, a tear strip 33 may extend substantiallyacross one of the side wall panels, such as the panel 12, the tear stripbeing defined by spaced parallel perforated lines 34 having at one end ahead 35 which is cut from the body and which may be grasped to removethe tear strip and to automatically open the carrier.

A series of spaced tabs 36 are provided in the bottom panel 11 and aredefined by U-shaped cut lines 37 which terminate along fold lines 39which intersect the center line of the bottom panel between the foldlines 13 and 14, and are arranged at a slight angle to this center line.Portions of the tabs, when folded upwardly at right angles to the bottompanel 11, extend on each side of the center line to provide a moreeffective partition between the lower ends of the bottles of the tworows when the carrier is filled. Two pairs of tabs 40 are also cut fromthe bottom panel 11 and are also defined by generally U- shaped cutlines 41, the tabs 40 being hingedly connected to the bottom panel alongfold lines 42 which are parallel to the fold lines 27 defining thelongitudinal side edges of the main portion of the blank. The fold lines42 are spaced from the fold lines 27 a distance substantially equal tothe diameter of the bottles contained, and the two pairs of tabs arealso connected to the bottom panel 11 along their fold lines 42 whichare spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the diameter of thebottles B, the tabs 40 thus being foldable upwardly to form a partitionbetween the lower ends of the bottles of each row.

Spaced apertures 43 intersect the fold line connecting the center toppanel 17 to the side top portion 20, the apertures 43 being located toaccommodate a portion of the cap and neck of the bottles B of one row. Aseries of apertures also intersect the fold line 19 connecting thecenter top panel to the side top panel portion 50. These last namedapertures are formed by arcuate cut lines 14 which extend into the panelportion 15 and intersect the fold line 19. The ends of the arcuate cutlines 44 are connected to a pair of parallel cut lines 45 which extendparallel to the longitudinal edges of the blank to the center line ofthe center top panel 17. Fold lines 46 connect the ends of the cut lines45, and extend along this transverse center line of the panel 17.

A pair of spaced tabs 47 are provided in the panel 17 intermediate thefold lines 19 and 21 defining the edges of the panel 17, these tabs 47being also located on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line ofthe blank between the center lines of. the opposed bottles of the tworows. The caps 27 are defined by U-shaped cut lines 49 and are foldablyconnected to the panel 17 along parallel fold lines 59. The tabs 47 aremerely designed to provide potential finger holes, and when these tabsare bent downwardly, apertures are provided through which a finger andthumb may be inserted for carrying the carrier.

The set up form of the carrier A is believed clearly illustrated in thedrawings. The tabs extend upwardly from the bottom panel 11 and extendbetween pair of opposed bottles in the two rows. The tabs are also bentupwardly in right angles to the bottom panel, and extend between thecenter bottle and the two end bottles of each row. The flanges 26 arefolded upwardly into substantially right angular relation to the bottompanel 11, and are held in this position by the side wall flanges 29 and30 which extend between the end bottles of the rows and the side walls16 and 12 to which they are hinged. Thus the lower ends of the bottlesare held from direct contact and are held from sliding from the ends ofthe carrier.

The tabs 51 which are formed by the connected cut lines 44 and 45 arefolded between the opposed bottles of each pair as is indicated inFIGURE 4. The outer walls of the apertures 43 and the arcuate cut lines44 are drawn snugly over the rounded upper portions of the bottle bodiesand hold the upper portions of the bottles from swinging longitudinally.Thus all of the bottles are held out of direct contact when the carrieris closed.

In the modified form of carrier C illustrated in PKG- URES 6-9 of thedrawings, the first side wall 10, the second side wall 11, the thirdside wall 12 and the locking flap 22 are identical to those described inconjunction with the carrier A, and have been given the same identifyingnumerals. The side wall 10 is provided with the locking slots andapertures 25 to accommodate the locking tongues 24 of the closing flap22. The bottom panel 11 is provided with the tabs 36 and 40, and aflange structure similar to that previously described is provided on theends of the bottom panel and side walls. Only i the top panel structurehas been changed, so the other elements have been given the sameidentifying numerals.

The top of he carrier C includes a top panel portion connected to theside wall 12 by a fold line 16, a center top panel 56 connected to thepanel portion 55 by a fold line 57 and a top panel portion 59 secured tothe top center portion 56 by a fold line 60. The panel portion 59 isconnected to the locking flap 22 by the fold line 23. Apertures 61 areprovided in spaced relation which are located similarly to the apertures43 to accommodate the bottle necks. The apertures 61 intersect the foldline 69 and extend partially in the center top panel 56 and the sidepanel portion 59. Each aperture 61 comprises a generally circular area,a generally wedge-shaped portion of which is cut away inwardly of thearcuate cut line 62. A pair of opposed generally triangular lips 63 areconnected to the carrier top along arcuate fold lines 64 which aregenerally at right angles to the fold line so that these lips may engagethe bottle necks on opposite sides thereof in a direction longitudinallyof the rows. A third lip 65 extends into each aperture, being foldablyconnected thereto along an arcuate fold line 66 which permits the tab 65to fold along the line which is generally parallel to the fold line 60,the lips 65 being engageable with the bottom necks on the outer sides ofthe rows. In other words, the lips 65 tend to hold the bottle neckstoward the longitudinal center of the carrier.

In the arrangement illustrated, the arcuate cut line 62, together withthe fold lines 64 and 66 form a circular aperture into which the lips 63and 65 extend. As these lips are folded along arcuate fold lines, theytend to lie on a conical surface when folded upwardly.

The apertures 67 designed to accommodate the necks of the bottles of theother row are somewhat similarly formed. However, portions of the topcenter panel are cut to provide foldable dividers designed to extenddownwardly between the opposed bottles of each pair. These dividersinclude a strap portion 69 and a generally wedge shaped end portion 71.The strap portion 69 is defined by a pair of parallel cut lines 71 whichare at right angles to the fold lines 57 and 60 and which terminate atthe center line between these fold lines. A fold line 72 extends alongthe center line of the top panel 56 between the ends of the parallelcuts 71. Concentric arcuate cuts 73 diverge from the opposite ends ofthe cut lines 71, the arcuate cut lines 73 extending along the generallycircular area defining the apertures 67. Converging cut lines 74 extendinwardly in a generally radial direction from the center of arcuationand the ends of the converging cut lines 74- are connected by a cut line75 parallel to the fold line 72. This arrangement of cut lines thusprovides the straps 69 and the wider wedge shaped ends 70.

Generally triangular lips or tabs '76 are provided extending into theaperture 67 from opposite sides thereof, the lips '76 being connected tothe top panels 55 and 56 along arcuate fold lines 77 which form a partof the circular area defining the aperture 67. The arrangement is suchthat the lips 76 may engage opposite sides of the bottle necks in adirection longitudinally of the rows of bottles. The hook lines of fold77 are generally at right angles to the line of fold 57.

Lips 79 are hingedly connected to the panel 55 along arcuate fold lines80 which also lie along the edge of the circular area defining theapertures and areas. The lips 79 fold along a line which is generallyparallel to the fold line 56 and are designed to engage the surfaces ofthe bottle necks which are on the outer side of the rows.

In this structure as in the carrier A, the necks 81 of the bottles Bwhich extend upwardly from the rounded shoulder portions forming thetops of the bottle body extend through the apertures. However, as isbest illustrated in FIGURE 8 of the drawings, the straps 69 with theirenlarged ends 71! extend between the opposed bottles of each pair, andthe lips 76 flex upwardly to engage beneath the bottle caps 83. As isbest indicated in FIGURE 7 of the drawings, the lips 65 and '79 engageagainst the bottle necks 81 beneath the caps 83 to hold the bottlesagainst the center dividers. In other words, in the carrier C, the upperends of the bottles are somewhat more efiectively held from movement inany direction.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principlesof construction and operation of my improvement in bottle carriers, andwhile I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, Idesire to have it understood that changes may be made within the scopeof the following claims without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

I claim:

1. A bottle carrier of the wrap around type adapted to wrap around twoside by side rows of bottles in opposed relation, the carrier includingan elongated strip of foldable sheet material creased to provide, afirst side wall, a bottom panel, a second side Wall, a top panelstructure and a locking flap secured in series,

said top panel structure including a center top panel and a pair of sidetop portions connected to opposite sides of said center top panel and tosaid second side wall and said locking flap respectively,

said top panel structure including a series of opposed pairs ofapertures at the juncture between said center top panel and said sidetop portions and spaced apart a distance substantially equal to thediameter of the bottles to be contained and equal in number to thebottles to be contained,

said apertures being of a size to accommodate the necks of the bottlesto be contained, 4

one aperture of each pair being at least partially formed by cut linesdefining a tab,

a strap connected to each tab and defined by cut lines terminating inspaced relation substantially at the center of said center top panelbetween said rows of apertures,

said tab and strap being adapted to fold into substantially parallelrelation to said side walls and between the bottles of each pair whensaid carrier is folded about said rows of bottles.

2. The structure of claim 1 and in which said top panel structureincludes a series of lips hingedly secured thereto along opposite sideedges of said apertures longitudinally of said rows and engageableagainst the necks of bottles inserted through said apertures.

3. The structure of claim 2 and including a third lip' hingedly securedto the side top portions along the edges of each said aperturenearest'the adjoining side wall.

4. A bottle carrier of the wrap around type adapted to Wrap around twoside by side rows of bottles in opposed relation, the carrier includingan elongated strip of foldable sheet material creased to provide a firstside wall, a bottom panel, a second side wall, a top panel structure anda locking flap secured in series,

said top panel structure including a center top panel and a pair of sidetop portions connected to opposite sides of said center top panel and tosaid second side Wall and said locking flap respectively,

said top panel structure including a series of opposed pairs ofapertures at the juncture between said center top panel said side topportions and spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the diameterof the bottles to be contained and equal in number of the bottles to becontained,

said apertures being of a size to accommodate the necks of the bottlesto be contained,

a substantial portion of said apertures being defined by lines of foldextending along the edges of said apertures nearest the adjoining sidewall and along opposite sides of said aperture which are insubstantially right angles to the line of fold connecting said side toportions to said side walls,

three generally triangular lips extending into said apertures from saidthree fold lines defining said apertures,

a tab cut from said top panel structure and defining the remainder ofsaid aperture in one aperture of each pair, and

a strap connected to said tab and defined by cut lines extending fromsaid aperture to substantially the center line of said center top panelbetween said side top portions, said strap and tab being adapted to folddownwardly from said center top panel and between the bottles of each.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSWuerthner May 21, 1963

1. A BOTTLE CARRIER OF THE WRAP AROUND TYPE ADAPTED TO WRAP AROUND TWOSIDE BY SIDE ROWS OF BOTTLES IN OPPOSED RELATION, THE CARRIER INCLUDINGAN ELONGATED STRIP OF FOLDABLE SHEET MATERIAL CREASED TO PROVIDE, AFIRST SIDE WALL, A BOTTOM PANEL, A SECOND SIDE WALL, A TOP PANELSTRUCTURE AND A LOCKING FLAP SECURED IN SERIES, SAID TOP PANEL STRUCTUREINCLUDING A CENTER TOP PANEL AND A PAIR OF SIDE TOP PORTIONS CONNECTEDTO OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID CENTER TOP PANEL AND TO SAID SECOND SIDE WALLAND SAID LOCKING FLAP RESPECTIVELY, SAID TOP PANEL STRUCTURE INCLUDING ASERIES OF OPPOSED PAIRS OF APERTURES AT THE JUNCTURE BETWEEN SAID CENTERTOP PANEL AND SAID SIDE TOP PORTIONS AND SPACED APART A DISTANCESUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE DIAMETER OF THE BOTTLES TO BE CONTAINED ANDEQUAL IN NUMBER TO THE BOTTLES TO BE CONTAINED,